Nobody's Fool

1 John 2:13   I am writing to you fathers because you know Him who is from the beginning.                                        I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.                                                                                                                                                                                                                Conservative author, radio host, and occasional politician William Bennett has written a new book titled, "The Book of Man". The book brings to light the issue of manhood in today's culture.

With the shifting climate in today's world such as the genderless-asexual movement, it's not surprising that many of today's young men are unaware of what true manhood means. Secretary Bennett's book takes an insightful, urgent, and critical  look into the lives of men at work, men at play, worship, war, and even at home.

Without the example of men....real men, our world becomes a lopsided culture wobbling out of sync. A place that is out of step and purpose set forth by our Creator.  If we are not prudent and careful as a country we could find ourselves in a social experiment that has gone rocky horror wrong. History has proven this fact for centuries and millenniums.

There is the tendency to blame politicos for this sort of crisis. But the truth is that with the absence of Godly men; the lack or willingness of men who's desire it is to serve God and their neighbor will adversely affect every layer of our society. Marriage, family, the church, and even our governments future relies upon the faithfulness and truth of God fearing...

Men & Women 

Young men...Honor your Father!
Fathers...Train up your young men in the way that they should go!    (Mothers and Young Women too)

The novel Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo became an award winning movie released in the late 90's. The movie featured Paul Newman in his last leading role. His character is a salty and tough retiree named Sully. A sub-plot in the story is that Sully finally awakens to his failings as a father and as a man. After a lifetime of neglect he reacquaints himself with his son and 10 year old grandson. Although a misfit, he tries hard to correct his mistakes.

On one occasion, his grandson is with him on a job site and Sully momentarily forgets about him.  When he returns to his grandson he's whimpering, thinking he's been abandoned. The father shows up and blast Sully for resuming what he calls his "old antics".

Later that night, Sully goes to see his grandson  who is still upset. Sully apologizes for the scary episode.

What he does next is...a manly thing.

He says to his grandson, "you know what I used to do when I was scared as a little boy?  I would try and be brave for one minute. A whole minute. And then the next time, I would try and be brave for two minutes. It seemed to work for me."

Sully reaches in his pocket and gives his grandson an old stopwatch so he can time his bravery.

Later...it proved to be a small but powerful gesture.

Afterwards, Sully's son who overheard the touching conversation says to him, "you was never a father to me, why after all these years are you trying to be one with your grandson?"

Sully pauses and calmly replies, "a mans gotta start sometime".

Man up